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Volquez, pair of HRs outlast Rockies' late blast

By
Jesse SanchezMLB.com

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Royals starter Edinson Volquez did not allow a hit in three scoreless innings and Rockies starter Jordan Lyles answered with a solid effort of his own, but a pair of Kansas City home runs helped the Royals claim a 3-2 victory at Surprise Stadium on Tuesday.

Right fielder Paulo Orlando launched a solo shot to center in the second inning to put Kansas City on top, and center fielder Bubba Starling legged out a two-run inside-the-park homer to make it 3-0 in the sixth. Cristhian Adames delivered a solo home run for the Rockies in the ninth.

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Royals starter Edinson Volquez did not allow a hit in three scoreless innings and Rockies starter Jordan Lyles answered with a solid effort of his own, but a pair of Kansas City home runs helped the Royals claim a 3-2 victory at Surprise Stadium on Tuesday.

Right fielder Paulo Orlando launched a solo shot to center in the second inning to put Kansas City on top, and center fielder Bubba Starling legged out a two-run inside-the-park homer to make it 3-0 in the sixth. Cristhian Adames delivered a solo home run for the Rockies in the ninth.

"I was trying to battle up there and put a good swing on it," Starling said. "I looked up and he was waving his hands around and I was like, 'Oh, we'll see what we can do here.' Obviously, the throw was not even close, but it felt good."

Volquez struck out two batters in his 37-pitch outing.

"I've been feeling pretty good right now throwing the ball to the plate," Volquez said. "My first game, I was kind of late with my arm, but I worked on that in the bullpen. I think I was better today and I want to keep doing what I did today."

For his part, Lyles was charged with two hits and one run with two strikeouts in three innings. He also walked a batter in the 39-pitch effort.

"I had a good time out there today," Lyles said. "I enjoyed it, having some positive feedback on the mound. I'm glad to be back out there."

Lyles retired the first four batters he faced before giving up the solo homer to Orlando. The Royals tacked on two more runs off Jason Motte on Starling's inside-the-parker that also scored Ramon Torres.

"I felt pretty good," Lyles said. "There are things we've been working on in our side session in between starts. We put a good face on it today. I'm pretty excited."

Ben Paulsen drove in Colorado's first run with a RBI single in the seventh.

Up Next for the Rockies: The Rockies will get their first look of the spring at the National League West-rival Giants, traveling the short distance to Scottsdale Stadium for a 1:05 p.m. MT start. It will be Colorado right-hander Eddie Butler against San Francisco righty Johnny Cueto, making his first start for the Giants since signing a six-year, $130 million contract as a free agent this past Dec. 17.

Up Next for Royals:Yordano Ventura, Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis, Brian Flynn, Sam Selman and Alec Mills are all expected to pitch Wednesday at 2:05 p.m. CT in a split-squad game against the Brewers at Surprise Stadium. Wily Peralta, Josh Hader, Adrian Houser and Jorge Lopez will pitch for Milwaukee.

Matt Straham, Scott Alexander, David Huff, Brooks Pounders, Peter Moylan and Aroni Nina are on track to pitch in the other split-squad contest against the Mariners at 2:10 p.m. CT at Peoria Stadium. Taijuan Walker and Cody Martin will pitch for Seattle.